Extended reach crowd control for a shovel

Abstract

An industrial machine and a method of controlling an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper supported by a dipper handle. The method may include determining an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limiting, with at least one controller, a reach of the dipper handle, and in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enabling, with the at least one controller, an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase. The industrial machine may include at least one controller configured to determine an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limit a reach of the dipper handle, and, in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enable an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper supported by a dipper handle, the method comprising:
 determining an operating phase of the industrial machine; 
 in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limiting, with at least one controller, a reach of the dipper handle; and 
 in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enabling, with the at least one controller, an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a loading phase of the industrial machine, the loading phase being the second operating phase of the industrial machine. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a digging phase of the industrial machine, the digging phase being the first operating phase of the industrial machine. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a speed of a swing motor. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining a speed includes determining whether a determined swing speed is below a threshold. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining whether a swing movement is being decelerated. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a dipper load. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining a dipper load includes determining a hoist load. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining when a swing speed approaches a minimal level. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a swing state of the industrial machine. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a position of the dipper relative to location for dumping material. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein limiting a reach of the dipper handle includes limiting the reach to a first portion of a length of the dipper handle. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein enabling an extended reach of the dipper handle includes enabling the reach to a second portion of the length of the dipper handle beyond the first portion. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in the second operating phase, limiting a bail pull below a standard bail pull. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in the second operating phase, notifying an operator of an extended reach condition. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after the industrial machine is in the second operating phase, determining when the industrial machine is no longer in the second operating phase. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein, when the industrial machine is no longer in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, disabling the extended reach of the dipper handle. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the industrial machine includes a shovel. 
     
     
       19. A shovel comprising:
 a dipper handle; 
 a dipper supported by the dipper handle; and 
 at least one controller configured to
 determine an operating phase of the shovel, 
 in a first operating phase of the shovel limit, a reach of the dipper handle, and 
 in a second operating phase of the shovel, enable an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a loading phase of the shovel, the loading phase being the second operating phase of the shovel. 
     
     
       21. The shovel of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a digging phase of the shovel, the digging phase being the first operating phase of the shovel. 
     
     
       22. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a speed of a swing motor. 
     
     
       23. The shovel of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a determined swing speed is below a threshold. 
     
     
       24. The shovel of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining whether a swing movement is being decelerated. 
     
     
       25. The shovel of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a dipper load. 
     
     
       26. The shovel of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a hoist load. 
     
     
       27. The shovel of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining when a swing speed approaches a minimal level. 
     
     
       28. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a swing state of the shovel. 
     
     
       29. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a position of the dipper relative to location for dumping material. 
     
     
       30. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to limit the reach to a first portion of a length of the dipper handle. 
     
     
       31. The shovel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to enable the reach to a second portion of the length of the dipper handle beyond the first portion. 
     
     
       32. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller, in the second operating phase, is configured to limit a bail pull below a standard bail pull. 
     
     
       33. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller, in the second operating phase, is configured to notify an operator of an extended reach condition. 
     
     
       34. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller, after the shovel is in the second operating phase, is configured to determine when the shovel is no longer in the second operating phase. 
     
     
       35. The shovel of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller, when the shovel is no longer in a second operating phase of the shovel, is configured to disable the extended reach of the dipper handle.